In collaboration with the neighbors of Mitchell Park East & West in Tempe, Arizona, two concrete culverts were embellished with handmade tile, mosaics and stone to create a visual story of the migration of endangered birds. Because this neighborhood uses flood irrigation, the area is lush with large trees and a variety of bush and plant material attractive to birds. All of the birds depicted in these two artworks have been identified in the neighborhood.

Baron invites us to be mindful of the intricate relationship and responsibility we have to this ecosystem. Everything has purpose. Stories of Nesting explores the desire and natural inclination for all of us to find a place to nest and call home.

Sculpture: Initiated by City of Tempe - “Percent for Art in Private Development” this trio of rammed earth constructed earthworks is sited at the busy intersection of Rural Road and Baseline Road (once the site of Earnhart auto dealership). Salvaged tools, auto parts, up-cycled stone and tile materials are encased within fabricated steel cages. Here, Baron explores and reflects upon current economic issues – when dramatic change is brought about by a need to reinvent urban spaces. Memory of place, time and history are informed through these collected artifacts and use of earth as a construction material.

Neighborhood: This large mixed-media mural depicts the Yaqui Indian migration from interior Mexico into Arizona. Yaquis played a key role in the construction of the Arizona canal system that we benefit from today. The murals share the stories, challenges and unique cultural contributions of this dedicated tribe. Community at-large joined with tribal members in the painting and ceramic workshops facilitated by Joan & Yaqui artist, Mario Martinez.

Today, Yaquis of Arizona live in Tucson, Guadalupe & Scottsdale, representing a significant element of Arizona history.

Archived photographs continue to be provided to the artists by Yaqui families throughout Arizona. The photographs are installed within the murals on custom glazed tiles. Executed in black and white they are exquisitely detailed.

Mario Martinez, a gifted painter and former resident of Penjamo Village in South Scottsdale, now resides in New York City. His contributions to this project add a unique and distinctive abstract expressionist style to these walls.

Public art: Thompson Peak Parkway serves as a major thorough way into the McDowell Mountain Ranch community of North Scottsdale. It features undulating earthen walls that provide sound mitigation, color and texture to both pedestrian and driver/passenger. Glazed ceramic elements embedded into the walls carry the memory of community stories and images created during site workshops. Collaborating with the landscape architecture firm & city staff, added a colorful palate of desert plants and boulders. The 8’ Mandala greets residents on the north, thus creating a unique aesthetic calming element within the cul-de-sac and the adjacent neighborhood.

“Gentle Wind and Brave Tree swirled a tender welcome song around Erma and Edgar upon their arrival at the pond. Sliver had been living there for a long time and was excited to be reunited with her friends once again. Together they sat in the stillness, for they knew they were in the holy zone of the luminous shining self. “Look how they balance upon the water,” remarked Sliver with a flourishing in her heart. Through her deep, pondering eyes, Erma shared, “Light is what we are made of, it is our essence.” As Edgar gazed into the bubbles, he caught a glimpse of the moon nestled in shards of memories... “Cosmic my dear friends, simply cosmic!”

Wellness: Sited in a narrow space, viewable through multiple windows in the pre-op area, children and their caregivers can view this mixed media art installation. A short story, composed by Baron, accompanies this piece. It shares the adventures of three dear friends.

This unique installation provided an opportunity for anxiety and stress to be minimized when gazing into the space.

Seeing Beyond

Tempe Post Office

2014

"The Curtain of the Alchemist's Delight"

The Curtain of the Alchemist Delight explores & examines my interests in plants, fetishes, & sacred objects. As an environmental artist, my life long interaction with the natural world strengthens my intuitive skills. This mixed media piece incorporates reclaimed & repurposed materials gathered from my desert journeys, while other elements are created in the studio after these explorations. With this installation, I seek to remind us of our intimate connection to animals, plants, & Mother Earth herself. It is this connection to the precious that drives me forward in my art works.

Matthew Henson Hope VI

Buckeye Road and 7th Street

Phoenix, Arizona

2007-2008

Neighborhood: Mixed-income development in South Phoenix.

Nine mixed-media and mosaic tile entry monuments throughout the 26 acre community were created & installed by Baron Studio

Three hundred fifty-six (356) of the 372 previous units will be demolished and the remaining 16 units will be rehabilitated to preserve the area’s historic nature and used for space to provide social services. The City is poised to use the grant as a catalyst to revitalize the Central City South Neighborhood by allocating additional funds to extend the revitalization process into the surrounding communities. In addition, the City has designated approximately 170 acres of the Central City South Neighborhood as the HOPE VI Special Redevelopment Area.Matthew Henson Apartments, Senior Living at Matthew Henson, the Vernell Coleman Youth Center, and the Community Training & Education Center comprise Henson Village. The new development will be a mixed-income community with housing available to families of various incomes (public housing, tax credit and market-rate). The new mix of housing types will include single-family detached homes, multi-family garden apartments, duplex townhouses and a senior complex. Various green building features have been integrated into the community providing great environmental, economic, and social benefits.

Commissioned by McCormack-Salazar developers and the City of Phoenix, with support of HUD partners.

Precious Resource - Abundance Recycled

NE Corner of 16th St S of Buckeye Rd at the intersection of the I-17 Maricopa Freeway underpassPhoenix, Arizona

Street-scape: This project was a collaboration with the students of Herrera Elementary, Ann Ott Elementary School and the City of Phoenix Transportation Department. It explores the balance between scarcity and abundance. The artist team incorporated painted surfaces and a variety of mixed-media materials in direct response to discussions with students about trash, recycling and pollution in their urban neighborhoods.

Welded steel and up-cycled metals comprise the majority of the work for its durability and natural patina as the material ages. The shapes were inspired by Madagascar Palms found during research outings at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

The top of each sculpture incorporates moving parts that respond to wind and other weather conditions.

Act of Mindfulness

NE Corner of 16th St S of Buckeye Rd at the intersection of the I-17 Maricopa Freeway underpassPhoenix, Arizona

Street-scape: This project was a collaboration with the students of Herrera Elementary, Ann Ott Elementary School and the City of Phoenix Transportation Department. It explores the balance between scarcity and abundance. The artist team incorporated painted surfaces and a variety of mixed-media materials in direct response to discussions with students about trash, recycling and pollution in their urban neighborhoods.

Welded steel and up-cycled metals comprise the majority of the work for its durability and natural patina as the material ages. The shapes were inspired by Madagascar Palms found during research outings at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

The top of each sculpture incorporates moving parts that respond to wind and other weather conditions.

Garden: This open air healing garden is sited within the grounds of Good Samaritan Hospital. A team collaboration resulted in a unique multi-sensory environmental experience for patients, families, visitors and hospital staff. Open year-round, the garden shares universal themes of healing within nature. Water elements provide soothing relief and opportunity for both quiet contemplation and social gathering. The Pillar’s Message offers a walking meditation for the visitor.

Custom tile works were installed on-site by Baron over a six month period. The interplay of color, texture, pattern & message brought new life to this open plaza garden.

The Pillar’s Message

A walking meditation/composition by Joan Baron

And the pillar said,

Lean and be with me

Feel my presence for I am in you

Do you know my history?

Consider my parts

I stand strong

My design, a composition of many sizes,

many colors that make me whole – holy.

Can you see how it works?

Do you embrace your textures?

Hello, shall we become friends?

I am old yet I hold within me many stories for you to know

and I shall love to hear yours

Stand strong and proud as I do

Welcome my friends; the sun and moon, rain, wind and stars

They are my loyal friends

They help me put forward a future vision

I am here for you; come paint a prayer about nurturing with me

You think because I am a pillar that I cannot feel what you feel?

My composition suggests differently

Help me create a new state of consciousness

Come talk to me in the garden

Relax, get clear

Smell... touch... listen

Return to the land of your soul

Be gentle

Reach powerful magic

Watch how kindly the water interacts with the trees and flowers, herbs, bee, bird, butterfly, ladybug, praying mantis, all plants...

Observe

Be witness to the gift of nature

Be willing to allow your body to rest

Empty your mind of everything

Merge your heart and soul into this experience and watch the child in you expand